DA urge Zuma to appoint new SABC board

A new board is yet to be appointed despite the interim board's term expiring on Tuesday.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 14: Democratic Alliance (DA) National Spokesperson Phumzile van Damme speaks during the 2017 State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate at the National Assembly on February 14, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. Political parties debated President Jacob Zuma’s SONA which was marred by chaos, violence and insults. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Jaco Marais)

The Democratic Alliance has urged President Jacob Zuma to adhere to recommendations made by Parliament earlier this month and appoint a new SABC board.

The term for the interim board expired on Tuesday and the president is yet to appoint a new board despite the recommendations.

The DA was responding SABC’s annual report for the 2016/17 financial year which was released on Wednesday.

“The report paints a grim picture about the state of the SABC’s financial affairs,” said DA MP Phumzile Van Damme.

“The SABC’s contingent liabilities currently stand at R956.7m, which the report flags as a major risk to the broadcaster. This is due to the corporation currently being embroiled in a number of lawsuits. This exorbitant amount could potentially cripple the already ailing SABC. President Zuma must appoint the board immediately to ensure that they get to work on restoring the SABC back to the world-class broadcaster it once was,” she added

She went on to propose that granting of a bailout should be subject to transparency.

“In light of National Treasury’s proposed R3bn bailout for the SABC, civil society and Parliament deserve to know the full scope of the SABC’s financial affairs and how this proposed bailout will turn things around for the embattled public broadcaster.”

This all comes after the public broadcaster’s annual report revealed a loss of R1.1billion for the last financial year.

According to Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu one of the reasons the loss could be attributed to is the ineffective collection of TV Licence revenue.

“In the past three years, there has been a decline in revenue, and an increase in expenditure, which led to the entity being in the net loss position in the past two years. The decline in revenue and cash collection has put the cash reserved and the entity under pressure,” Makwetu said.